Wednesday, June 14, 2017

There's just no stopping the Belly-train. Last night he went on a homer barrage that was for the ages. He cranked out two home runs -- including the game winner -- to record his fourth multi-homer effort in his short major league career. In fact, he accomplished the multi-homer feat faster than anybody ever has -- in 45 days. In celebration of this new record Topps has issued the above 2017 Topps Now card that will be available until tomorrow morning. Go here to check it out and order.

Today marks official release of 2017 Topps Series 2 Baseball cards -- their sequel to the flagship set released before the start of the season. To celebrate I though I would first focus on the ever-popular "First Pitch" cards featuring famous folks on the mound. Go here to check out my posts on all the various "First Pitch" cards released by Topps over the years.

As you can see, Dodger Stadium returns as a field that garners multiple cards in the set. The Series 1 version only yielded one Dodger card. This time around there are three Dodger cards to chase after. Check them all out below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

For their fifth pick, 160th overall, of the 2017 Draft the Dodgers selected right-handed pitcher Riley Ottesen from the University of Utah. He's an over-aged sophomore who took a couple of years off to go on his mission to Japan. Per Tyler Crum at The Daily Utah Chronicle:

An unthinkable sacrifice for most college athletes, Ottesen did not throw a single pitch while on his mission, but he firmly believes any setback to his athletic career was justified by the life-changing experience.

“Japan was the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said. “A mission isn’t always the best two years of your life, but it’s the best two years for your life. It’s helped shape me into a person, a man and a husband that I may want to become in the future.”

Selected at the #4 spot for the Dodgers, 130th overall, is right-handed pitcher James Marinan. He is the first high school player chosen by the Dodgers. James is 18 years-old, stands 6' 5", is 220 lbs., and recently committed to the University of Miami. Although, I don't think we have to worry about him not signing. He recently expressed his delight on twitter (@marinan_james) at being selected by LA.

This Cody kid is good. Not only did he break a slump that saw him slash .143/.250/.286/.536 during a ten game stretch, but he has done it in glorious fashion. Over the past three games he has slugged five home runs and driven in eight, and last night he wowed his contemporaries by becoming the fastest player in Major League history to have four multi-homer games -- in 45 career games. Per Jordan Bastian at MLB.com:

"[He's] exceeded all of our expectations," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It's easy to say he's only going to get better, and he keeps getting better."

Even against a pitcher of Miller's caliber.

"I think it's more crazy before a game," Bellinger said. "Once you step in the box, it's nothing new."

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1991 the Dodgers signed 17-year old amateur free agent pitcher Ismael Valdéz out of Victoria, Mexico. He would eventually play seven seasons in LA during an 12 year career -- accumulating an 61-57 record, an 3.48 ERA, a 3.88 FIP and a WHIP of 1.235 as a Dodger. In 1993 the Dodgers play their very first game in Colorado against the expansion Rockies. Behind the pitching of Pedro Astacio, Los Angeles pounded out 12 hits (including a Jody Reed homer) to win the game, 9-4. In 1995 Dodger hurler Hideo Nomo struck out 16 Pirates to set an Dodgers all-time rookie record for strikeouts.

Google +

Pinterest

Supporters

Blue Heaven In The News

“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis